中式英语之鉴VIII.IX

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Pronouns and Antecedents:
  This chapter focuses on the challenges of using pronouns correctly in English, especially for Chinese learners. Pronouns like "it," "they," or "this" must clearly refer to a specific noun (antecedent) to avoid confusion. The author lists four rules for clarity:  
- The antecedent must be explicitly stated (not implied).  
- It should be unambiguous (no competing nouns).  
- It should be near the pronoun (not too far away).  
- It must agree grammatically (in number, gender, etc.).  
Common mistakes include:  
- Missing antecedents (e.g., "It should be planted closely" — what is "it"?).  
- Ambiguous references (e.g., "State companies and traders... their role" — whose role?).  
- Remote antecedents (e.g., a "they" referring to a noun three sentences back).  
- Agreement errors (e.g., "Each enterprise... they" — should be "it").  
  The author stresses that even native speakers struggle with pronouns, but Chinese learners face extra hurdles due to differences in language structure (e.g., Chinese often omits subjects).  
Reflection:
  I never realized how tricky pronouns are until seeing these examples. In Chinese, context often fills gaps, but English demands precision. I’ll pay more attention to repeating nouns instead of overusing pronouns, especially in formal writing. The "four rules" are a handy checklist!  

The Placement of Phrases and Clauses
This chapter explains how word order affects meaning in English. Unlike Chinese, English relies heavily on placement to show relationships between words. For example:  
- Misplaced modifiers can create confusion: "She served sandwiches to the children on paper plates" (Were the children on plates?).  
- Adverbial phrases (e.g., "after 20 days") can shift emphasis: Placing them at the end highlights the main action ("They reached the mountains after 20 days").  
  The author uses a historical text example where rearranging phrases ("In late August..." vs. "After 20 days...") changes the focus. The best order depends on context—what’s most important to highlight.  
Reflection:
  Word order feels intuitive in Chinese, but English requires deliberate choices. I used to think "longer sentences = more advanced," but clarity matters more. Now I’ll experiment with moving phrases to see how the tone changes.
  Both chapters highlight how small details (a pronoun or comma) can distort meaning. Translating isn’t just swapping words—it’s rebuilding ideas to fit English logic. The book’s examples make the rules feel less abstract, more like tools to avoid misunderstandings.